DE HERSTART

A save with FC Volendam inspired by Raphael Honigstein’s Das Reboot, and the journey of the German national team after their disastrous early 2000’s.

✍🏼 – adam_otbfm

2.1 | MAKE THE MOST OF SET-PIECES

CLUB VISION. I don’t remember the last time I paid attention to set-pieces in Football Manager. I know I should, and I know the extra goal contributions could probably have seen me secure more titles than I have in my time of lethargy. This year, as I stated way back in 0.1 | DE HERSTART,…

HEIJSMAN: “SQUAD HARMONY ISN’T A CONCERN”

FC Volendam manager Dan Heijsman denies that bringing in 9 new players has caused a rift in the squad. One new signing, goalkeeper Gabriele Marchegiani, has immediately gone out on loan due to his unhappiness at the signing of a second keeper in the window; Heijsman is understood to be angry at his conduct and…

1.3 | TACTICAL TWEAKS AND SEASON REVIEW

DOMINATION. The league was very comfortable in the end. Despite being far more shaky in the second half of the season, losing 7 of the last 18 games, we still managed to retain our 12 point advantage by season’s end. The inability of our rivals to put real pressure on our position doesn’t diminish the…

1.2 | MID-SEASON ANALYSIS

HELLO DATA HUB. The winter break is here, and with half the season down, I think it’s time to properly delve into the Data Hub for the first time. After the initial buzz of seeing the Wide Centre-Back added to FM22, the Data Hub became the headline feature I was most looking forward to having…

1.1 | IT STARTS ON THE TRAINING PITCH

GRAFT. ‘Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard’TIM NOTKE With the season now underway, I’ve been putting my plan into action when it comes to training. FM21 was the first time I looked at doing my own training, inspired entirely by Fox in the Box FM’s incredible training playlist. However, I only really…

0.4 | TACTICAL SETUP

SYSTEMS. ‘The evolution of tactical systems is also something that’s being worked on right now. Three at the back is a system that’s being talked about amongst the FA coaches a lot. German football is very professional like that, very good at looking at the finer points that can give you an advantage. You’ll always…

0.3 | SQUAD ANALYSIS

TIME TO WORK. Now that the full release is here, I guess I better have a look at what I’ve got to work with. The media prediction for Volendam is third, but the bookies make us 8th favourites and the board want a mid-table finish. Since I’m new to the division and can’t rely on…

FC VOLENDAM: ROOKIE HIRED TO REPLACE WIM JONK

Wim Jonk has left his post at FC Volendam with the club citing ‘a difference in future visions’. It’s understood that he is the only casualty, and the coaching staff will remain in place under the new manager. Dan Heijsman is a former Dutch U21 international who retired through injury in 1998; after a long…

0.2 | ESTABLISHING A DNA

IDENTITY. Identity is talked about a lot in football, especially lately. Poor old Ole Gunnar Solskjær probably twitches when he hears the word, such is the heat he’s getting about his lack of it. As I mentioned in 0.1 | De Herstart, one of the first things I’ll set out to achieve at Volendam is…

WHO AM I KIDDING?

SHIT. I haven’t slept so well for the past few nights. Thoughts have been swirling around in my head, the last few days have been kind of surreal. I’ve agreed to take my first ever job in management, and I really don’t feel ready. The fact that the club aren’t ready to announce it yet…

0.1 | DE HERSTART

WELKOM. I’ve never been so ready, or so prepared(!) for a new edition of Football Manager. The 2022 iteration will soon be with us, and so I felt it’s time to talk a bit about who I plan to manage and what my plans for the save are. I revealed the side I’d be managing…

WHERE WERE YOU WHEN…

‘Where were you when Beckham scored from the half-way line?”Where were you when Germany beat Brazil 7-1?”Where were you when Zidane headbutted Materazzi?’ Football fans ask the question a lot, where were you when…? Iconic moments, both good and bad, not only become important enough to live long in the memory, but have such a…

Advertisement